Art Institute of Chicago

William Penn's Treaty with the Indians (Furnishing Fabric)

After an engraving by John Hall (English, 1739–1797), after a painting by Benjamin West (American, 1738–1826)

Date

c. 1800

Medium

Cotton, plain weave; copperplate printed

Culture

England

Department

Textiles

Institution

Art Institute of Chicago

The panel was adapted by an unknown engraver from a print by John Hall published by John Boydell in London in 1775. The Hall print is after a painting of the same subject by Benjamin West (1738- 1826) dating from 1771/1772, now in Independence Hall, Philadelphia. William Penn (1644- 1718) was a prominent English Quaker leader and the founder of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. He was a friend any ally of the Indians and purchased land from them at a fair price. The "treaty" depicted by Benjamin West was not an actual event-- no documents were ever signed. However, in 1683 Penn did meet with the Indians to declare peace.

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